$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
grandchild kidnapped ransom scam
A caller claims your grandchild has been kidnapped and demands an immediate ransom, sometimes playing recordings of a person screaming in the background.
“grandparent scam”
↑ 85%Key indicators
Usually targetsGrandparents
Often hitsRetirees and seniors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$7.2K
median reported loss
Typical range$900 – $54K
Recovery rate~5%
Annual reports10,000
Scam breakdown
1
The scammer calls and plays audio of someone screaming or crying, claiming they have kidnapped the victim's grandchild.
2
They demand a ransom and insist the victim stay on the phone — this prevents independent verification.
3
The victim is instructed to send cash via courier, wire, or cryptocurrency, often told that calling police will endanger the grandchild.
What to do first
Try to contact your grandchild independently — use another phone or ask someone nearby to call them.
Related terms
virtual kidnappingfake ransom callkidnap threat scamGrandparent scamsPhoneRisingGrandparentsOlder adultsElderlyRetirees and seniorsParents and familiesImmigrants and visa holdersUnited StatesCanadaAustraliavirtual kidnappingfake ransom call
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Emily, 38, a grandparents, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate grandparent scams situation while using Phone. The scammer calls and plays audio of someone screaming or crying, claiming they have kidnapped the victim's grandchild.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They demand a ransom and insist the victim stay on the phone — this prevents independent verification.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The victim is instructed to send cash via courier, wire, or cryptocurrency, often told that calling police will endanger the grandchild.
The outcome
Emily realized something was wrong when background screaming or crying creates extreme emotional pressure. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Try to contact your grandchild independently — use another phone or ask someone nearby to call them. Emily's experience shows why background screaming or crying creates extreme emotional pressure and caller demands you stay on the line and not hang up or call anyone are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Background screaming or crying creates extreme emotional pressure
- Caller demands you stay on the line and not hang up or call anyone
- Ransom must be delivered as cash via courier or cryptocurrency within hours
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Try to contact your grandchild independently — use another phone or ask someone nearby to call them.
- ✓Do not stay on the line as demanded — scammers use this tactic specifically to prevent verification.
- ✓Call 911 immediately and report the threat.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FBI has issued multiple public advisories about virtual kidnapping scams, noting that the calls often originate from overseas and target families randomly.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Try to contact your grandchild independently — use another phone or ask someone nearby to call them.
- ✓Do not stay on the line as demanded — scammers use this tactic specifically to prevent verification.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FBI has issued multiple public advisories about virtual kidnapping scams, noting that the calls often originate from overseas and target families randomly.
FBI IC3 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Grandparents, Older adults, Elderly
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
Phone — Grandparent scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Grandparents are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FBI has issued multiple public advisories about virtual kidnapping scams, noting that the calls often originate from overseas and target families randomly.
Source notes
- FBI IC3 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about grandchild kidnapped ransom scam
How does the grandchild kidnapped ransom scam work?+
The scammer calls and plays audio of someone screaming or crying, claiming they have kidnapped the victim's grandchild. They demand a ransom and insist the victim stay on the phone — this prevents independent verification. The victim is instructed to send cash via courier, wire, or cryptocurrency, often told that calling police will endanger the grandchild.
What are the warning signs of grandchild kidnapped ransom scam?+
Background screaming or crying creates extreme emotional pressure Caller demands you stay on the line and not hang up or call anyone Ransom must be delivered as cash via courier or cryptocurrency within hours
What should I do if I encounter grandchild kidnapped ransom scam?+
Try to contact your grandchild independently — use another phone or ask someone nearby to call them. Do not stay on the line as demanded — scammers use this tactic specifically to prevent verification. Call 911 immediately and report the threat.
Who is most at risk for grandchild kidnapped ransom scam?+
This scam primarily targets Grandparents, Older adults, Elderly. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, Australia and typically appears on Phone.
Is grandchild kidnapped ransom scam on the rise?+
grandchild kidnapped ransom scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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What to do first
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.